Northwoods League Has New Playoff Format

The Northwoods League is expanding the playoff field for the 2015 season. The new format is designed to help teams like the Waterloo Bucks, who had a solid season in 2014 but failed to earned a post-season berth.

Last season, the Bucks finished their 72-game campaign with a 45-17 record. Waterloo ended up with the third-best overall mark in the Northwoods League (NWL), but fell a half-game short in each of the half-season divisional races behind two different teams. Therefore, the Bucks missed the playoffs under the old four-team format.

Waterloo would have been the No. 3 seed in 2014 under the new playoff format that begins this summer. For a preview of the Bucks' 2015 season, click here.

The new post-season structure announced by the league in March increases the playoff field from four teams to eight. Two additional teams from each of the two divisions are being added to the competition, playing a pair of single-elimination games on the first two days of the playoffs.

The divisional playoffs will start on Monday, August 10 and end on Tuesday, August 11. Wednesday, August 12 will be an off day and the Summer Collegiate World Series will start on Thursday, August 13, using a best-of-three format.

According to Northwoods League officials, here's how the new playoff format is structured:

• First- and second-half divisional champions will have home field advantage on the first day of the one-game elimination divisional playoffs. If a team wins both halves, the team with the second-best overall record will also have home field advantage on the first day.

• Opponents will be determined by the two divisional teams remaining with the best overall records. If a team wins both halves, opponents will be determined by the three divisional teams remaining with the best overall record.

• The first- or second-half divisional winner with the best overall record will host the remaining team with the second-best overall record on day one.

• Home field advantage on day two will go to the team with the best overall record.

• Day two winners will play in the best two-of-three championship series.

The Northwoods League has used the four-team playoff format since 1998, when the circuit expanded to eight teams. Today, the league features 18 teams.